Tuticorin: All measures must be taken to conserve water resources to meet the future needs, said S. Samuel Asir Raj, Associate Professor, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli.

Corporation Commissioner P. Kubendran, right, releasing a poster on World Environmental Day in Tuticorin on Saturday.

Addressing a programme organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Tuticorin, on World Environment Day on Saturday, he said that with copious amount of rainfall, water resources could be conserved but the benefits of the southwest monsoon in Tamil Nadu was only marginal. Digging deep borewells was not advisable.

Hence people should come forward with a vision and find out ways and means to tap community resources for conserving water. “Since the evaporation of water is very high, the people are experiencing the radiation of heat. Global climate change has become a reality and the glaciers feeding the Ganges are melting down at a rapid pace. The Ganges is considered the lifeline of north India,” he said.

“We must also devise strategies to recycle electronic wastes such as computer spares.” Noise and air pollution must be reduced. The carbon exhaust form vehicles could also be minimised. With this the temperature level could be reduced by a fraction at least, he said.

Using technology being adopted in solid waste management throughout Tamil Nadu, the environment could be protected from pollution, P. Kubendran, Corporation Commissioner, said. A lot of stress was being given by the government on eco system management, he added. A poster titled, ‘Green Earth – Fresh air – Better Life,’ was released on the occasion.

The fish measuring 120 cm in length from head to tail and weighing about 10 kg is an edible fish with high nutritional value. The fish was caught through hook and line by Pon, a fisherman of the region.

J. D. Jameson, former Director of Research and Extension, Fisheries College and Research Institute, Tuticorin, said here on Thursday that “though fish can tolerate extreme saline condition, it normally grows well in low saline water. The fish mainly feeds on fine algae and is found in deep seas.”

Fifteen years ago, milk fish seeds were collected along brackish water regions like Punnakayal and Pullavazhi of Tuticorin for stocking them in ponds but it has come down due to marine pollution. Hence due attention should be paid and initiate appropriate measure to combat pollution especially along the coast.

He was of the view that better aquaculture management and seed production were need of the hour. “The occurrence of male milk fish in Threspuram landing centre along the Gulf of Mannar is an evidence that the milk fish fishery can be enhanced by measures like fishing holidays and ranching of seeds which could render this kind of fish to grow well in the marine environment and attain good size for further propagation, Dr. Jameson added.

Tuticorin: The fishermen expressed satisfaction over the outcome of a hefty catch when the forty five day period of fish ban along the coastal water was lifted.

The atmosphere at fishing harbour in Tuticorin was hectic. Coming back to shore after venturing into the sea at night, the fishermen with a glittering smile on their faces, said that a huge catch would fetch rich dividends. The arrival of prawns was higher than expected. Delighted consumers thronged the auction hall at the harbour.

Tuticorin: The captive breeding of seahorse by research scholars of Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute here was successful.

As many as 530 young ones were produced and released in a phased manner in the coral and sea grass area along the coast of Tuticorin.

A batch of 116 young ones was released here on Tuesday in the reef area outside the Tuticorin port. Seahorses were mainly found in shallow tropical and temperate waters throughout the world. They prefer to live in sheltered area such as sea grass beds and coral reefs. Sea horses were being exploited in various parts along the coast of India. The major threats to seahorses are exploitation for the purpose of commercial trade, habitat destruction due to trawling and pollution. The extracts from seahorses were being used for medicinal purpose since they have medicinal values.

As far as the Chinese medicine was concerned, seahorses were traditionally considered the main components.

“Since the species of seahorses are being depleted, seahorse captive culture and sea ranching is essential for enhancing wild stocks and to improve its production. Seahorse captive breeding is not a complex technology but the major concern in establishing seahorse aquaculture is a provision of sufficient quantities of nutritionally balanced live food,” J.K. Patterson Edward told The Hindu here on Tuesday. Having regard to all these factors, a pilot project has been taken up by the Forest Department, he said.

Dr. Samuel was addressing the students at a session organised by Confederation of Indian Industry, Tuticorin Chapter on “Global Climate Change – What you can do.”

“The global climate and sea remains a tool for teaching the society and people about the values of culture. The sea wind has constantly influenced the Tamil culture. Our country is blessed abundantly with natural resources of different varieties of trees and plants with medicinal values. All measures have to be taken to protect the bio diversity. Many foreign countries envy us,” he added.

The major cause of climate change was carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas variations.

“Since the eighties have served as reminders that climate change is a global problem, the most dramatic change has been in the temperature with measurement records suggesting that warming had risen by 0.3 to 0.6 degree centigrade,” he said while referring to the some of the impacts of climate change including volcanic eruptions, solar variations, orbital variations and land use changes.

Climate change might result from both natural and human causes.

The importance of human causes had been increasing during the past few centuries, Dr. Samuel said.

R. Edwin Samuel, Chairman, CII, Tuticorin, said that “unless the government adopts the strategy of clean energy, the threat of climate change will be on the rise. The burning of fossil fuels is one of the major causes of climate change,” Mr. Edwin Samuel said.

J.P. Joe Villavarayar, Vice Chairman, CII, Tuticorin, also spoke.

Students of management studies from various engineering colleges and members of CII attended.

Tuticorin: With a view to enhance the population of seahorse, an endangered species, in captivity breeding and sea ranching in the natural habitats for replenishment of stock, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department has sanctioned a pilot project on an outlay of Rs. 1.5 lakh to Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute (SDMRI) here.

In extinction list: A sea horse species. — Photo: N. Rajesh

The SDMRI, in association with the Forest Department, would release captive cultured young ones into natural habitats (coral reefs and sea grass beds) in the islands of Gulf of Mannar (GoM) in March, said SDMRI Director J.K. Patterson Edward here on Sunday.

Captive breeding would help increase the population of natural stock of the endangered seahorse in GoM. The project would also assist the natural resource managers to formulate strategies for monitoring the released young ones.

Seahorses were being used for medical and ornamental purposes, Dr. Edward said. “Seahorse, which belongs to genus Hippocampus, is facing major threats and commercially overexploited. This species is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The particular species is often found in shallow coastal waters and prefer to live in sheltered areas such as sea grass beds and coral reefs. Although they are bony, they do not have scales. The reproduction process of these species of fish is very unique, wherein the male has an incubating pouch in which the female deposits the fertilised eggs.”

On measures adopted to protect the species, M. Sundarakumar, Wildlife Warden, Gulf of Mannar Marine National park, told The Hindu that joint patrolling of personnel from the Forest Department, Marine Police and Coastal Security Group had been strengthened.

“Besides, we have been imparting community-based eco-development activities among fishermen along the coastal area to increase awareness of sustaining the ecological system. Training is being given to Forest Department staffers and the personnel of Enforcement wing for identification of the species. Besides, restriction has been imposed on particular fishing nets banned by the government. Fishing is the primary source of sustenance for the fisher folk but the endangered species should be protected at all cost,” he added.